An important milestone for the airline and the country’s aviation sector has been reached with the successful completion of the first-ever electric aircraft flying under the Air New Zealand brand.
Air New Zealand and American aerospace pioneer Beta Technologies collaborated to test one of Air New Zealand’s Alia electric conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft last week, marking a significant milestone.
A Major Step Toward Sustainable Aviation
The aircraft, which is being leased for four months as part of the airline’s technical demonstrator program, will allow Air New Zealand to familiarize the pilot and engineering team with the Alia CTOL and assess how well it performs in local weather conditions.
Additionally, the demonstration offers New Zealanders a rare chance to get up close and personal with state-of-the-art battery-electric aviation technology, offering a peek into the cleaner, quieter air travel of the future.
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Arrival and Testing Schedule
Last week, the Alia CX300 arrived in New Zealand and was blessed in Tauranga during a sunrise ceremony. After the initial testing phase at Hamilton Airport, the aircraft will travel to Wellington Airport in December for a two-month assessment.
The test flight marks a significant turning point in Air New Zealand’s Next Generation Aircraft program, said Baden Smith, General Manager for Fleet, Networks, and Strategy.
“It’s incredibly special to partner with a global innovator like Beta Technologies to ensure New Zealand plays a key role in shaping the future of flight,” said Smith. “We know aviation will keep changing – it always has. This is a small, cautious step to learn and be part of that change.”
Performance and Specifications
The Alia CTOL can fly with one pilot and five passengers, or it can train with two pilots. It has a 5.6 cubic meter cargo capacity and is propelled by a single H500A electric motor that can generate up to 427 kW of power, which powers a five-blade fixed-pitch propeller.
Although its practical range is only about 215 nautical miles when fully loaded, the aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 153 knots and a demonstration range of up to 336 nautical miles.
Multiple layers of protection, liquid cooling for quick recharging, and sophisticated fire detection and containment systems are all features of its battery system, which Beta developed internally. Each unit has a 45 kWh energy storage capacity and can produce 115 kW continuously and 400 kW at peak power.
Cost and Environmental Benefits
There are substantial cost and emission savings when flying an Air New Zealand electric aircraft. A typical Cessna 208 costs $347 USD per hour, while the Alia CTOL costs about $18 USD per flight hour. It also reduces carbon emissions by up to 75%, demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of electric aviation.
It demonstrates the advantages of silent, emission-free flight operations while being compatible with the airport’s current infrastructure thanks to its traditional take-off and landing design.
Future Plans and Charging Infrastructure
The Beta Alia CX300 will fly throughout New Zealand several times while there to test performance in a range of environments and altitudes. The aircraft will connect the North and South Islands by operating test routes between Wellington and Blenheim once it arrives in Wellington in December.
To ensure seamless test operations, 65 kW mobile charging stations will be positioned at the Hamilton, Wellington, and Blenheim airports to supply charging.
A New Era for Air New Zealand
This test flight represents Air New Zealand’s dedication to a sustainable aviation future and goes beyond a simple technical demonstration. The airline maintains its tradition of innovation by investigating cutting-edge electric aircraft technology, guaranteeing that New Zealand stays at the forefront of aviation advancement.
